People with Medical Marijuana Cards: Did you face any hassles when applying to new jobs?

Submitted by Da_Splurnge t3_ya70za in Connecticut

From the research I've done so far, it seems like there's a fair legal basis for protections provided under PUMA (CT's Palliative Use of Marijuana Act) with at least one solid example of precedent in favor of a card holder whose application was rejected upon the potential employer learning that she had her Card. According to PUMA, so long as the person isn't using cannabis during work hours, their employer has no right to discriminate against them for having/using their MMJ card off the clock.

Still, I'm curious if anyone here has had any difficulty with prospective employers taking issue with someone's status as a card-holder.

To add to that, do people still err on the side of caution by abstaining in advance of a potential request for a drug test during the hiring process?

I have been abstaining for months, but am wondering if that's been unnecessary.

Would appreciate any input people might have (though hoping to avoid some "Mmm drugs are bad, m'kay?" moral circlejerk - trying to keep this productive and nonjudgmental).

Thanks!

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Papa_Bearto2 t1_ita0f4q wrote

Have never had any issues getting a job with my medical card. No interviewer has ever asked me if I have the card.

Considering my current boss grows his own weed I can’t imagine it’ll be a problem now either.

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Da_Splurnge OP t1_itc6bj9 wrote

Haha that's awesome about your boss - he sounds very chill.

I guess I don't expect an interviewer to ask me if I have the card; more concerned with them requesting a drug test and then how they'd react to me saying I have the card... That's the one thing that's been keeping me from partaking even though I now have my card in hand (hopefully getting a job offer in a few days 🤞).

Thanks for taking the time to reply - comforting to hear that people aren't catching flak for it.

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Turbulent_Singer5907 t1_it9khqx wrote

no i’ve never had an issue. you are not allowed to be denied employment for having a medical card but i have seen businesses turn people away for having one, but that is just a reflection of the company and i wouldn’t work for them. when i had to test i just told them i was a card holder and when the test came back with marijuana it didn’t matter. unless you don’t have a card, abstaining isn’t necessary.

however i have been seeing way more that apparently you can’t be denied a job if you smoke weed outside of work, as long as you’re not stoned on the job in connecticut, but idek if that’s even true. (obviously there are some jobs that all this you need to throw out the window and not smoke at all) but i’m not sure how accurate this piece of information is since i have had my card for almost three years, it’s just what i have heard

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Da_Splurnge OP t1_it9lysz wrote

Awesome, thanks for the response!

I've got my card already, but there's still a part of me that's worried about jinx-ing myself... I'm interviewing for an office job that wouldn't have any reason to take issue with people partaking outside of work hours, but it's always been such a big deal in the past that I can't help but feel a bit nervous about doing it even WITH my card in-hand.

Guess I'll know soon enough if I'll even get the offer and will probably just play it safe anyway, but it sucks having to abstain from something that helps out of fear of jeopardizing an employment opportunity 😕

Anyway, I'm rambling - appreciate you taking the time to give such a thorough reply!

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Last-Bat8477 t1_itazzej wrote

I have not. I always make sure to be careful about smoking before work as the smell can linger.. but quite honestly if you have your medical card a job cannot discriminate against you unless using marijuana will directly impede what job you do i.e soldiers on duty

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Da_Splurnge OP t1_itc5to1 wrote

Thanks for the response!

I never smoke before work, myself (leaves me feeling too anxious), but it for sure helps me unwind afterwards.

That's really comforting to hear about that kind if protection, though. There's still a part of me that's paranoid about partaking while waiting on a potential job offer even WITH the card, but I can't tell if that's just a holdover from having to worry about that in the past. Been holding off for a while, but would love to enjoy it while there's still (some) leaves on the trees haha

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Likeapuma24 t1_it9ut4a wrote

Add on to your question for card holders: what kind of issues are you running into getting your pistol permit or purchasing firearms?

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frgttensoldier1 t1_it9wl10 wrote

Law prohibits the state from denying or revoking your permit. Federally though...

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Likeapuma24 t1_it9wx9p wrote

Yeah I had heard the permit would be able to get through, though Form 4473 specially asks. Not that I'm the market to buy a firearm any time soon, but in the off chance I was...

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frgttensoldier1 t1_it9xlvx wrote

Federally it's a disqualifier/ felony. It's a serious problem that the state has neither addressed or prepared for, and something the fed representatives should at least address.

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makeusqwirt t1_itd0rii wrote

Yeah, that's were they get you,if you buy a new firearm and answer yes to the marijuana question you just get denied.if you lie on the 4473 its 10years a felony and a 2500 dollar fine. Its like a trap

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Papa_Bearto2 t1_ita01cp wrote

I had my pistol permit prior to getting my medical card but had no issues renewing my pistol permit.

I also bought a shotgun when I had my card and didn’t run into any issues.

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JayB2A t1_ita3smz wrote

Medical card won't save you if your employer does a drug test.

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Da_Splurnge OP t1_itc73m1 wrote

Are you confirming that from experience?

Everything out so far on PUMA says that employers can't discriminate against applicants who have their card (who would obviously be testing positive for THC on a drug screen). The law states that employers could only take action against you for consuming during work hours.

Everyone else responding to this also seems to say otherwise... I'm guessing it's somewhat industry-dependent, but for most folks situations, I'm not sure if what you're saying holds up (no offense - just haven't seen/heard anything yet to back that up).

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